12th April, 2014, 1530 hours
We head over to Palashy an village 13 Km from where were
staying, 25 KM from Burdwan, and here we found the villagers caught up in the
hustle of trying to finish there days chore and start to prepare Lord SHIVA,
yes u read it right, they were preparing Lord Shiva’s, every house that is
interested is appointed by the village priest to decorate a sanyasi or two if
they prefer as Lord Shiva, and it is the imagination of the householder as to
how they want to see there Lord.
Base layer applied the sanyasis are made to
stand in the sun , and the paint is dried up before further work is done on
them.
Different flowers are dipped in colors to make
patterns , often a whole family is at work, different members working on a
different color to prepare these sanyasis, Yes even ladies are allowed to be a part of
these lovely creations a true work of art, indeed.
As the dressing up progresses one feels the characters
falling into there role, there is a marked shift in the demeanor of these
sanyasis as they start to feel and look like Lord Shiva and mentally fall into
a state of Being Lord Shiva.
The whole family has been involved in this
dressing up and preparation, which mostly happens in the courtyard, the kids
and elders are present to cheer and entertain if not actively participating.
Once all decoration of the live sculpture, the
sanyasi is complete a red bud of the Hibiscus Flower is put into their mouth to
denote Lord Shiva is ready to be paraded. At road corners sanyasis are gathered
along with beating of drums and they will head out to the next road corner where
more dressed sanyasis will gather, and they will travel the village
There is no age limit , bottom or top as to
who can be a sanyasi , and young boys too become sanyasi to get a feel of what
it is like to be Lord Shiva.
All dressed up and as the sun sets, Lord Shiva look alike sanyasis now travel in a procession to a village called KURMUN where they will congregate at the shiva temple which is also referred to as Gajan Tala.
There is a fair in full swing at Kurkun, with food + rides + shopping for the locals to enjoy themselves as they come to watch the sanyasis run around. and parade themselves.
As night sets in, The Good Lord is in need of sleep, it is time for the sanyasis to relax and prepare for the next day where they will play with the human skull's.
All dressed up and as the sun sets, Lord Shiva look alike sanyasis now travel in a procession to a village called KURMUN where they will congregate at the shiva temple which is also referred to as Gajan Tala.
There is a fair in full swing at Kurkun, with food + rides + shopping for the locals to enjoy themselves as they come to watch the sanyasis run around. and parade themselves.
As night sets in, The Good Lord is in need of sleep, it is time for the sanyasis to relax and prepare for the next day where they will play with the human skull's.
The Gajan festival is held over 7 day period, the
last day of the festival being the last day of the Month of Chaitra, the day
that CHARAK is celebrated, usually on 14th April,
according to Bengali – English calendar.
The next day is the start of the Bengali New Year.
The next 3 blog entry will be about Gajan and
how it transpired, if interested in buying images, and or story please contact : Rajat7549179539@gmail.com
Or call 91 75491 79539/ 91 9967852541
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